Resources
Pros and Cons of Owning a Work Based from Home Business
By Shannon Kietzman
A work based from home business is one that you can do entirely from the comforts of your own home. As the owner of a work based from home business, you are responsible for all aspects of the Read more...
|
Resources
Ebay for Stay at Home Moms
By Thomas Childs
eBay for Stay at Home MomsIf you are a stay at home mom you may be getting the urge to do something more with yourself. You may want to make a bit of money while staying at home with Read more...
|
Resources
Make Your Home Office Part Of Your Home Again
By Maxine Chandler
One of the hottest trends in home furnishings these days is lines of furniture dedicated to the home office. Vendors are beginning to design home office furniture that keeps your office a part of Read more...
|
|
#Welcome to
Home Buyers Boot Camp real estate listings buyers guides - your comprehensive real estate investments resource.
Below, you'll find extensive information
on leading real estate investments articles and products to help you on your
way to success.
Making Your Home Energy Efficient Adds Up to Big Savings
By Michael Clem
Government statistics report that conserving energy costs in the can save a household several hundred, even several thousand, dollars per year on their utility bills. Replacing your older appliances and elements of your home’s structure, such as older windows and doors, with more energy-efficient alternatives, such as products that meet ENERGY STAR guidelines, is an important step to maximizing the amount of money you can save. ENERGY STAR is a government program that identifies products – including appliances, electronics, and improvement products – that meet energy efficiency guidelines that exceed the minimum federal standards, as determined by the U.S. Department of Energy. You can identify a product that meets the organization’s guidelines by looking for the signature blue ENERGY STAR logo.
The ENERGY STAR program began as a voluntary labeling tool to “identify and promote energy-efficient products to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.” It started with the labeling of computers and monitors and more than a decade later, has expanded to identify all types of products used in homes and offices that conserve energy. The result: Consumers and businesses have saved billions of dollars since the program began – $12 billion in 2005 alone.
Energy-efficient appliances – such as refrigerators and freezers, clothing washers, dishwashers, dehumidifiers and window air conditioning units – can cut consumer utility bills in half when compared with standard models. And improvement products with an ENERGY STAR rating – such as vinyl replacement windows, doors, skylights and siding – help to better maintain your home’s temperature control, cutting heating and cooling costs anywhere from $20 to $400 per year.
If you’ve been searching for a product in any one of the more than 40 categories rated by ENERGY STAR, you may have come across
the organization’s blue logo. That seal of approval indicates that the item can perform as well as, or better than, comparable products, but save you more money than if you purchased a less energy-efficient option. A refrigerator meeting ENERGY STAR’s energy conservation guidelines today:
Uses 40% less energy than models sold in 2001
Saves its owner 15% in energy costs when compared with other models (And freezers save 10 %.)
Compact models, with volumes less than 7.75 square feet, save 20%
A washing machine that meets ENERGY STAR guidelines:
Saves its owner up to $110 per year
Requires 50% less energy than standard washing machines
Uses up to 50% less water
Has more efficient spinning cycles to reduce drying time
Energy-efficient appliances provide an obvious cost savings for a household’s energy expenses. And other products that meet ENERGY STAR standards, such as vinyl replacement windows, doors, skylights and siding, make a significant contribution to keeping those costs down as well. Replacing your existing windows and siding with newer, better designed vinyl replacement windows and insulated siding can quadruple the insulation value of your and save an average of 30% on your utility bills.
In addition to saving money, vinyl replacement windows with this rating create a more comfortable living environment by:
Eliminating drafts and blocking heat
Offering protection from sun damage
Reducing interior condensation on windows
In the winter, energy-efficient vinyl replacement windows keep the interior glass warmer for better temperature control. And the warmer the window, the less interior condensation that, over time, can damage your window sill and paint job, and encourage mold growth. In the summer, these windows also:
Block 45 to 70% of the sun’s heat
Provide “sunscreen” to your by blocking ultraviolet light that can reduce fading up to 75% without compromising visible light.
Whether you are looking to add to the beauty of your and lower your energy bills by installing vinyl replacement windows, or you want to make a smart decision when choosing your next dishwasher or window air conditioning unit, products that meet ENERGY STAR guidelines offer an economical alternative that leaves more money in your pocket.
Michael Clem is Operations Manager of Creative Energy of Richmond, Virginia. Creative Energy uses ENERGY STAR-compliant vinyl replacement windows and doors to make their clients’ homes more energy efficient.
|
